The
momentum
for
a
four-day,
in-office
mandate
is
picking
up
steam
in
Biglaw.
Just
this
week,
A&O
Shearman
announced
that,
beginning
on
September
2nd,
attorneys
will
have
a
face
time
requirement
of
four
days
a
week,
up
from
the
in-office
three-days
a
week
rule
that
the
firm
previously
employed.
As
per
the
firm’s
statement
on
the
matter:
This
update
recognizes
the
vital
role
in-person
interaction
plays
in
the
professional
development,
mentorship,
training,
and
teamwork
of
our
people,
and
serves
to
maintain
the
strong
culture
that
underpins
the
quality
of
our
work
and
client
service.It
also
aligns
with
a
broader
shift
in
the
legal
industry
and
among
many
of
our
clients,
who
have
adopted
similar
approaches
to
in-office
work
in
the
U.S.,
while
continuing
to
support
a
flexible
working
environment.We
remain
focused
on
ensuring
our
people
have
the
tools,
environment,
and
support
they
need
to
thrive,
both
individually
and
collectively.
A&O
is
right
that
a
four-day,
in-office
policy
is
trending
in
Biglaw.
Hogan
Lovells; Davis
Polk; Latham; Paul
Weiss; Ropes
&
Gray; Simpson
Thacher; Skadden; Vinson
&
Elkins; Weil
Gotshal; WilmerHale; White
&
Case;
and Sidley all
have
a
four-day,
in-person
attendance
policy. And
Sullivan
&
Cromwell actually
goes
a
step
further
and
mandates
five
days
in
the
office.
And
with
this
broader
trend
—
as
well
as
a
tightening
job
market
—
associates’
avenues
to
resist
the
four-day
mandate
are
lessening.
This
is
the
new,
new
normal
and
associates
will
have
to
acclimate
if
they
want
to
stay
in
Biglaw.
At
least
the
firm
is
waiting
until
September
when
the
worst
heat
of
the
summer
is
over
before
calling
everyone
back
to
the
office.
As
soon
as
you
find
out
about
office
attendance
plans
at
your
firm,
please email
us (subject
line:
“[Firm
Name]
Office
Reopening”)
or
text
us
at
(646)
820-8477.
We
always
keep
our
sources
on
stories
anonymous.
There’s
no
need
to
send
a
memo
(if
one
exists)
using
your
firm
email
account;
your
personal
email
account
is
fine.
If
a
memo
has
been
circulated,
please
be
sure
to
include
it
as
proof;
we
like
to
post
complete
memos
as
a
service
to
our
readers.
You
can
take
a
photo
of
the
memo
and
attach
as
a
picture
if
you
are
worried
about
metadata
in
a
PDF
or
Word
file.
Thanks.
Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of
The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter
@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon
@[email protected].